Rourkela: The six-hour strike observed by the Kuanrmunda Nagarik Committee against severe dust pollution arising out of local sponge iron units went off peacefully on Wednesday.

However, vehicular movement between Odisha and Jharkhand was again affected during the shutdown.

There was no untoward incident as the protesters, over 500 persons from the surrounding villages, squatted on the road. Business houses, public institutions such as banks and government offices remained closed. But, local schools were not included in the strike. Trucks and buses were not allowed to ply anywhere. Several trucks were stranded on the road till the strike was over.

Kuanrmunda police station officer-in-charge Manoj Nayak, however, said: "Traffic was normal except for trucks going to the polluting plants."

Committee convener Rajesh Kerketta said: "We will wait for 15 days and then go for 24-hour bandh."

The strike observers were protesting against the rampant dust pollution arising out of the six sponge iron units.

Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries president K.K. Poddar said: "Both are equally responsible for the problem."

Rajesh Bagaria, promoter of Swastik Iron, a unit in question, said: "I have been asked to take care of my ESP (electrostatic precipitation) within a week. I will to do that."